ARTICLE I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION
SEC. A. The name of the organization shall be "Alaska Independent Blind, Inc."
SEC. B. The organization may be referred to as "AIB."
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION SHALL BE:
SEC. A. To further individually and collectively the concept that legally blind persons are an integral part of the community, that they have abilities and accomplishments as well as special needs, and that they want opportunities in all areas to be contributing members of society.
SEC. B. To seek, through advocacy the cooperation and assistance of social, civic, educational-and economic leaders and to seek the cooperation of local, state, national and international organizations and agencies working on behalf of the blind in order to achieve the goals of this organization.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP - DUES
SEC. A. Anyone eighteen (18) years of age or older is eligible to become a voting member of the AIB upon compliance with the provisions set forth in the Constitution.
SEC. B. Dues are annual, and are established at two dollars, ($2.00), above the per capita rate assigned by the American Council of the Blind per member.
SEC. C. At least 51% of the entire membership must be legally blind.
SEC. D. Expulsion: A hearing, according to Robert's Rules of Order as Revised, shall be required before the AIB Board of Directors to expel any member. The member charged shall not have the right to vote.
SEC. E. Alaska Independent Blind is an organization operated for and by individuals who are legally blind. All persons are welcome to join and participate as full members of the organization. It must be noted, however, that persons who are legally blind shall determine the course they shall take. Any direct or indirect intrusion into this right of self-determination can be cause for immediate removal from the organization by the AIB Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
SEC A. 1. The Officers shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer.
SEC. A. 2. All Officers shall be elected every two (2) years for a two-year term not to exceed three consecutive terms for a total of six (6) years at any one (1) time in any one (1) position. Should a vacancy occur, the President shall have the authority to appoint an Officer to fill the vacancy until the next regular convention. An appointment or election that fills an unexpired term shall not count as a term.
SEC. B. No Officer shall receive compensation for any service rendered in his/her official capacity with exception of reimbursement of expenditures incurred with the prior approval of the Board.
SEC. C. DUTIES
1. President: The President shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors, issue the call for regular and special meetings; be responsible for conducting regular elections; appoint chairpersons of committees. Committee members shall be appointed by either the committee chairperson or the President at the President's discretion. The President shall be in charge of the management of the AIB daily affairs, and shall have the authority to hire and suspend staff members. Staff members can only be terminated at a vote by the AIB Board of Directors at a Board of Directors meeting. The funds of the AIB shall be deposited in any bank or investment firm chosen by the President or the Treasurer and approved by the Board of Directors.
2. First Vice-President: In the absence of the President, shall oversee the operation of committees As delegated by the President; performs other duties as assigned by the President.
3. Second Vice-President: In the absence of the First Vice President, shall perform the duties of that office. Performs other duties as assigned by the President.
4. Secretary: Under the direction of the President and Vice-Presidents is responsible for maintaining general records of the organization.
5. Treasurer: Maintains accurate records of all deposits and withdrawals. All checks are to be signed by the Treasurer, an Officer, or staff person designated by the President upon receipt of authorization by the President; responsible for submitting timely information to maintain exempt tax status. The Treasurer shall report the financial position of AIB to the members at each fall convention and at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Treasurer shall also provide reports of the AIB current financial affairs to the President of the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days after receipt of written request therefore.
ARTICLE V BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SEC A. The Board of Directors shall include the Officers: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Ssecretary, and Treasurer. Three (3) Board Members shall serve on the Board with the addition of the Immediate Past President in good standing. Each AIB Chapter President is automatically on the Board, unless someone from the Chapter is already represented on the Board. When serving in the capacity of an AIB Chapter President, the chapter President shall not have the right to vote. The AIB President shall be the Chairman of the Board, and votes only in case of a tie; all other members of the Board of Directors have the right to vote at Board meetings.
SEC. B. 1. One three-year Board position will be elected each year. In the case of an unexpired term, the position will be voted upon at the next AIB convention.
SEC. B. 2. Chapter Presidents shall only remain a member of the Board of Directors for the duration of that Chapter President's term of office. In the event that the Chapter President is already elected as a Board member, the Chapter President will serve as the Representative of that Chapter in their capacity as a Board member.
SEC. B. 3. The Immediate past President serves for the duration of the most recently elected President. In the event that the Immediate past President is elected to another office, the office need not be filled for the duration of the newly elected President's term.
SEC. B. 4. Each Board Member may be elected for two (2) three-year terms as a Director on the Board of Director. If filling an unexpired term, the person still may be elected for two (2) consecutive terms of three (3) years.
SEC. C. At least two-thirds of the Board shall be blind and the President and Vice-Presidents shall be blind. The elections shall take place at the annual convention of the Alaska Independent Blind. All officers' terms shall be limited to three consecutive terms. The President shall have the authority to appoint member to fill a vacancy on the Board until the next regular convention.
SEC. D. INDEMNIFICATION: The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to indemnify any Director, Officer, employee, volunteer or agent, or former Director, Officer, employee, volunteer or agent for expenses and costs (including attorney's fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him/her in connection with the defense or settlement of any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding to which he/she is made a party by reason of his/her being or having been such Director, Officer, employee, volunteer or agent, except in relation to matters as to which he/she shall be finally adjudged to have been guilty of gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of his/her duties as such Director, Officer, employee, volunteer or agent.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
SEC. A. There shall be a regularly scheduled meeting of the Alaska Independent Blind annually, time and place to be fixed in advance by the President and approved by the Board.
SEC. B. The President or two-thirds of the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the AIB at any time it is deemed such action to be necessary. To constitute a legal meeting, a quorum of the Board of Directors must be present.
SEC. C. Fifty-one per cent (51%) of members present shall constitute legal voting authority.
SEC. D. Decisions made at the state convention shall be the supreme authority in forming the policies of the AIB.
SEC. E. No provision of this Constitution shall be construed so as to diminish the authority of the convention to act as the supreme authority of the AIB.
SEC. F. The Board of Directors and/or committees may conduct their meetings by telephone conference calls if and when necessary.
SEC. G. The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly, the time, place, and method of meeting to be set at the discretion of the President.
ARTICLE VII. BUSINESS PROCEDURES
SEC. A. Records Management: All records, (including, but not limited to, electronic, facsimile, cassette recorded, or Brailled or printed on paper), are to be housed at the Alaska Independent Blind office of record.
SEC. B. Right Of Privacy: To maintain privacy of employees, members and volunteers within the organization, certain information will not be available to the public. Such information includes but is not limited to: membership lists, employee data and medical information and/or certification. Certain information may be available to Board members by written request, and under supervision. The material may not be copied or photocopied.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
SEC. A. Amendments of the Constitution may only be added at the annual convention of the Alaska Independent Blind by a majority of the members assembled.
SEC. B. Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to the Secretary at least fifteen (15) days prior to the annual regular meeting. The Secretary shall make a copy of the proposed amendments available to members at the commencement of the convention during which the amendments may be voted upon. All Constitutional amendments shall be voted upon only at the state AIB convention.
ARTICLE IX CHAPTERS
SEC. A. To form a chapter under the AIB, the chapter must have at least five (5) legally blind members. The President and Vice-Presidents must be legally blind. At least 51 % of the chapter's entire membership must be legally blind, and be from the community the chapter serves.
SEC. B. Dues are annual and are established at two dollars ($2.00) above the per capita rate assigned by Alaska Independent Blind per member.
SEC. C. Any member who is not a member of the chapter will be a member at large of AIB.
SEC. D. Each chapter is responsible for electing its own Board and Officers.
SEC. E. The AIB President shall be considered the Ex Officio President of each State Chapter.
SEC. F. Application must be made to AIB in order to form a chapter. The Board of Directors must approve new chapters. At the request of the Board, proof of legal blindness and other documentation as requested must be provided to the Board of Directors.
SEC. G. The property of the chapter is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and in the event of liquidation, dissolution or abandonment of the chapter, after providing for the debts and obligations thereof, the remaining assets shall be disbursed to the Alaska Independent Blind.
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION
SEC. A. The Alaska Independent Blind, Inc. is organized pursuant to the general non-profit Corporation laws of the state of Alaska. The property of the AIB is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and in the event of liquidation, dissolution or abandonment of the AIB, after providing for the debts and obligations thereof, the remaining assets will be disbursed to the American Council of the Blind (ACB).